Hundreds of students form guard of honour to say farewell to Eric Winstone

Paul Grinnell

Hundreds of students formed a guard of honour to say farewell to a popular Peterborough head teacher Eric Winstone, as he retired after 40 years in education.

Students at Ormiston Bushfield Academy, in Ortongate, lined the main staircase and corridor to applaud Mr Winstone on his last day.

A red carpet was also laid out in the corridor for his speech and presentation.

Mr Winstone has served for 13 years as principal of the academy and has been dedicated to education in Peterborough for the last 40 years.

He guided the school through a period of significant change; formerly Bushfield Community College, it gained academy status in 2009 sponsored by the Ormiston Academy Trust.

It moved into a purpose-built, state-of-the-art, £20.6 million building in September 2012, boasting its own television and radio studios, a 524m2 library and an all-weather football pitch.

Attainment at the academy under Mr Winstone’s leadership has soared, and the academy’s Ofsted report from May 2012 praised the academy for its solid teaching, rising standards and clear direction of improvement.

Dennis Kirwan, previously deputy principal at the school, took up the role of principal in September.

He said: “We were pleased to be able to give Eric the send-off he deserved.

“He is hugely popular with staff and students, and he will be sorely missed. He leaves behind a real legacy of hard work and dedication. We wish Eric all the best.”